4. Substance. The Department is issuing an interim final rule to address an existing backlog in pending labor certification applications. The amendment to regulations allows the National Certifying Officer to transfer to a centralized ETA processing center(s) applications now awaiting processing by State Workforce Agencies or Regional Offices.

5. Action. Program administrators are requested to share this Information Alert with appropriate staff and other agencies, and are invited
to comment, on or before August 20, 2004 to the offices named in the Addresses section of the Federal Register attachment.

6. Contact. Comments or questions about labor certification may be directed to the Division of Foreign Labor Certification in
your Regional Office: